The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-12-08
VOL XVII
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
BOTH BRANCHES ALREADY DOWN TO
VERY HARD WORK,


Final Disposition--A Synopsis of the Pro.
ceedings I'm Both Houses.
COLUMBIA, December 3.-Perhaps at
no session of the Legislature has there
ever been, after the close Of the second
week only, such showing in the way OF
actual work, as the body now in session
makes to the people. Both Senate and
House evidently came here here with the
determination to clear up the crowded
calendars left from last session, and thus
promptly clear the way for tho work OF
the present. BY steady and judicious
work, the measures standing over have
been disposed of, and already several
bills Of importance, introduced this ses-
sion, have met their fate-have been
passed or killed.
REMOVING DISTRACTIONS TO NAVIGATION.
About the first real discussion of the
present session came up on the bill to
prohibit the obstruction of navigation by
bridges over and across the rivers Of this
State. The first section of the bill is as
as follows:
"IhGt no person or persons, or corpO-
rations, in this State shall keep or cause
to be kept, put or caused to be placed,
any bridge over and across any OF the
rivers within this State so as thereby to
injure or obstruct the free navigation of
said rivers, and every such person or per-
sons or corporation 80 offending shall for
felt for each and every such offence the
sum of two hundred dollars for each day
that such bridge may be so kept or re-
main as On obstruction to said free navi-
cation, for the use Of tbs State"
The second section requires companies
to remove bridges now obstructiug navi-
cation or to place suitable draws to en-
able steamboats, to pass through without
lowering the smokestack. Tho penalty
for violation is 5000 for every clay during
which the obstruction continues.
The third section makes the law 60
into effect six months after its passage.
The debate on this Act took up the
greater portion of two Legislative days.
The opponents of the bill thought it too
stringent, and thought tho steamboat
could easily have hinged smokestacks
and lower them to pass under the
bridges. There were several amend
ments-one to strike out tho words sin
the least; another to confne the appli-
cation of the bill to navigablo streams.
The blu was finally passed. 1t goes
back to the Senate.
THE TAX ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
Senator Youmans's bill "to amend m
Act to change the time Of listing proper
ty for taxation" caused some debate. 1t
added to Section | Of the Act named the
following proviBo: "Ihat the folio wing
agricultural products, to wit, corn, cot.
ton, wheat, oats, rice, peas and long
forage, made Oh the day specified by
law, shall be the amounts actually on
hand on August l, immediately preced,
ing the date of said return; provided
further, that this shall apply only tc
such of said products as are actually in
the hands of the producer thereof"
The purpose Of the bill was to relieve
all but the surplus of his agricultural
products, it being estimated that the
amount remaining on hand on the ls5 o1
August could justly be considered u sur
plus.
Senator Noise moved to rccommit the
bill as he considered it partial and class
legislation. He made this motion will
the knowledge that it would be defeated
but he would insist upon it.
Senators YOumans and Sinkler EN-
- phatically favored the bill and maintain
ed that it was not discriminative.
The motion to recommit was rejected
by vote Of % to 4.
The bill was then passed and sent tt
the House without division.
RAILROAD CONSULTATIONS.
Senator Murray's bill to regulate ant
restrict the rights OF railroad corpora
tions in this State in acquiring addition
al lines of railroad" passed its third read
ing in the following shape:
SECTION l. That from and after TN
passage of this Act it shall not be Lawful
for any corporation owning, leasing
operating, controlling, or having any in
terest in any line of railroad in thi
State, to purchase, lease, operate, COZ
troll or obtain any interest in any otho
line Of railroad now operating or here
after to be constructed in this State
without first obtaining IN Act Of tn
General Assembly authorizing the same
Sec. 2 forfeits the charter of any raj
road company violating the provisions {
this Act.
SEQ. 3. That if any individual or ind
viduals who operate, control, or own til
majority of stock of any railroad CO..
poration in this State, shall purchas
stock in any other line of railroad cha1
tered il this State such stock shall NJ
be entitled to be voted in any electiO
for officers or as to the management
the property, but shall participate in a
dividends and emoluments arising ther
from.
r.. Section repeals all Acts or parts
Acts which may conflict with the pr
Visions of this Act.
PROHIBITION MEASURES.
There was quite q discussion in II
House upon the bill to submit to IL
voters Of Abbeville county the questiC
Of license or no license in the incorpo
ated towns and villages of that count
\ Mr.. Pope, OF Newberry, moved to etrii
out the enacting clause. Messrs. Youn
Parker and Mars, of Abbeyille, al
Z Messrs. Archer, of Spartanburg, Dave
Aport, of Greenville, and Beard,
Oconee, spoke in opposition to the m
on 80 strike out, and Mr.. Hamilton,
~ ester, MIR. Ansel, of GreenVille, al
ers favored it. The ayes and na
%fng called, the House by 38 ayes OIL
nays, refused to strike out. The b
hnally passed second reading with {
on arfiaa pf 0npnpa opj Eroosyillo l.